NFL Notes: Judge Will Rule Soon after Unproductive Talks

NFL Notes: Judge Will Rule Soon after Unproductive Talks

Article excerpt

Judge says he'll rule soon after unproductive talks

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots
quarterback Tom Brady attended last-minute settlement talks between
the NFL and its players union Monday before a judge announced he
would decide the dispute over deflated footballs with a ruling in a
day or two.

Everyone involved "tried quite hard" to reach a deal in the
controversy that has hung over professional football since New
England easily won the AFC title game in January, U.S. District
Judge Richard Berman said in federal court in Manhattan.

However, Berman said: "We did not reach a settlement. ... In some
cases, it doesn't happen and this is one of those cases."

Absent a compromise, Berman will have to either affirm or throw
out Goodell's decision in July to uphold a four-game suspension of
Brady. The NFL concluded the quarterback colluded with two Patriots
ball handlers to deflate footballs to gain an edge in a 45-7 victory
over the Colts. The NFL Players Association has accused the league
of handling the discipline unfairly for Brady, who has denied any
role in the scandal nicknamed "Deflategate."

Speaking at a hearing that lasted less than five minutes, Berman
noted that senior executives from the league and the players union
who had not attended several previous settlement talks joined more
than an hour of negotiations Monday morning.

Giants president and co-owner John Mara took part, as did free
agent kicker Jay Feely, Berman said. Feely is a member of the
union's executive committee and Mara is chairman of the NFL's
executive committee that oversees labor matters.

"For us it reinforces the desire and the need for an independent
arbitrator in these matters of personal conduct," Feely said outside
court. "But we understand Tom's position and I think the process
will work itself out."

Griffin replaced by Cousins * The Washington Redskins have made a
quarterback change: Kirk Cousins will be the starter this season,
not Robert Griffin III.

"We feel like at this time, Kirk Cousins gives us the best chance
to win," coach Jay Gruden said, unseating Griffin, the 2012
offensive rookie of the year. …